Washing-machine.



w. '1. BRUNGER, WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY I9. 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHIEET 1.

,WALTEKJ-BRQNGER f Patented J une 6,- 1916.

WYL'BRUNGER.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, I915.

' Batentgd June 6 ,1916. 3SHEETS-SHEET 3 WALTER J. Banners oriaorssprnano'. i

w'lmm it may concern: j

,{Be it known that .I, WALTERJ. BRUNGER, a-"ci tizen, of'the United States, residing at -Boise,j in the county. ofv Ada and State of Idaho, have invented cert 'n Improvements in: Wash%g-Ma'chines, of whichthe following is a specification, refer-- new and useful encefbeing had tothe accompanying draw ing s hisinvention relates to washing ma chines, and has for its primary object to provide an improved washer for flat work such 'as sheets, pillow slips, towels, table, cloths,

and like articles of fabric, whereby said articles may be quickly and thoroughly washed without sub ecting the same to excessive wear.

The-invention has for'a further object to provide a machine of the above character having improved means for automatically feeding the fabric articles to aplurality of -reservoirs and finally delivering the same to a'drying and ironing machine.

It is another object of my invention to ,provide improved means for automatically feeding awashing compound to certain of the reservoirs.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the washing" liquid is forcibly expelled against.

.-the fabric article upon its entrance into the described, claimed, and lllUSlJIEKiZQd in the acreservoir and the fabric thoroughly per neated thereby to remove the particles of dirt. With the above andother objects in view, my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter more fully companying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a dlagrammatic s de elevation of a washing machine constructed in accordeace with the preferredembodiment of' my invention; Fig. 2'is a top plan viewof' the iforward or'feed end of thefinachine; Fig

3 is ajsection taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.

'1 ig. lis a section taken onthe line H of Fig.2 Fig. MS a fragmentary planview and. Fig. 8 isa detail perspective view of the WA HI G-momma.

,in number, which are mounted and supported in a, suitable framework of any desired construction. In each ofthese reservoirs, a longitudinally grooved or corrugatecLroller 6 is mounted, the gudgeons upon the ends of such roller being journaled in suitable water tight bearings provided upon the opposite end walls of the reservoirs. Upon the frame legs 7, a longitudinally extending shelf or s'upport 8 is secured, said shelf being made up of a plurality of, sections. The reservoirs 5 are preferably arranged in pairs and the supporting legs 7 are securely bolted together. Upon the longitudinally extending support 8,.centrifugal pumps 9 are mounted, one of said pumps being provided for each of'the reservoirs 5. A supply pipe 10 con-' nectsthe pump cylinder to the bottom of the from the opposite side of the pump cylinder upwardly through the reservoir to a point slightly above the roller 6 where 'sa i'd dis meansforadjusting'or teynsioning the artisTArEs-r y v Patented June 6,1916, "Application filed July 19, 1915. Serial No. 40,736. Y

charge pipe "communicates with the transversely disposed jet pipe or tube 12, the purpose of which will be hereinafter: fully pointed out.

' A'plurality of "endless feed tapes or ribbons 13 extend around and under the several rollers 6. Upon the opposite end walls of each reservoir 5 and at one side of the roller 6 therein, the ends of peripherally flanged rollers 14 are journaled. These rollers guide 1 or directthe tapes or ribbons 13 after the same leave the roller (i in one reservoir to the roller li'of the next succeeding reservoir. Any desired number of feeding; tapes-13 may be employed, and it will be understood that the rollers Hare each provided With a multiplicity of spaced annular flanges 'be-. tween which the tapes are received and y S d tapes are properly spaced m eachlotlier.

Liar:

In spaced relation to the forward endof the machine, the sm oothroller 15 rotatably mounted in asuitable.supportsecured Below this:

to: the main frame structure. roller andbetween the same and the firstof the guide rollers 14, a" series 0f,rollers16'a r flmounted, over 1 wh ich the 10W the feed tapes 13 successivelypa edisheav'es '1-7 are; engaged ape Weight several f ofty the inclined smoothing board 18 is arranged,

over which the tapes pass. Upon this board, the articles to be washed are placed in a flattened condition, and said articles are carried fromthe' board by the tapes 13 into the first of the tanks or reservoirs After passing around the several rollers 6 and out of the rear end reservoir 5, the tapes 13 pass between the pairs of presser rollers 19 and 20, respectively. The lower rollers are preferably COIlStIllClLQtl of metal while the upper rollers 20 are made of heavy galvanized iron and covered or padded with fabric, preferably duck. These rollers 20 are mounted at their ends in spring pressed bearings. as shown at 21., so that the same are yieldably forced downwardly upon the tapes and on the articles of fabric which are carried thereby. After leaving the presser rollers, the tapes pass around va roller 22 and then downwardly around the lower roller 23. The roller 22 is provided with spa'ced'flanges in a'siniilar manner to the rollers 14. while the lower roller 23 is smooth. A supporting; roller 24 for the tapes is also mounted upon the. machine frame intermediate of its ends and at the forward end of the machine, the guide roller 25 is journaled. From this latter roller, the tapes pass upwardly and over the series of rollers 16.

in order to retain the articles of fabric upon the feeding tapes as the latter pass over the several rollers 1 and into and out of the reservoirs. I provide the heavy tightly woven or twisted cords 26 which are also endless and correspond in number with the number of the tapes iii. The upper stretches of these cords are supported and guided by a series of rollers 27 mounted in the frame the same frun sagging and maintain' the cords'in a taut co'r'iditioii. It will be ob served that the front andlrear rollers 27 are disposed forwardly and ilearwal dly, respectively, of the front roller 14 and the presser rollers 20. Thus, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the several endless cords 26 pass over the forward roller 217 and then downwardly and inwardly ardundth forward roller 4-, at which point the cords. engage with the respective tapes 13 and pass with. said tapes around the several rollers 6 and through the tanks The lower stretches of the cords 28 also pass between the presser rollers 19 and 20 and then upwardly around the rear roller 27 while the tapes continue a.

direct rearward movement around the roller clamped and held in an adjusted position.

In these spaced arms, the bearing trunnions on the ends of spaced rollers 32 and 33', are journaled. The roller 32 is of substantially the same diameter as the roller 22- while the roller 33 is of somewhat smaller diameter. This latter roller is preferably adjustable longitudinally upon the arms 31 toward or away from the roller 32. A second series of endless cords 34- extend around the rollers 22 and 33., and are adapted to receive the washed articles of fabric from the tapes l0 and deliver the same to a rearwardly enitending ribbon feed 55 which is a part of ironing machine, which, in turn, feeds said articles to a drying and ironing machine (not shown). The rollers 22 and 32 are ap proximately one inch apart and the endless cords 2-34 extending around the roller 22 and 33 are disposed intermediate of the endless tapes 13.. These cords lift the flat pieces, from the tapes--13 after passing between the ringer rolls 19 and--20, the wet flat pieces sticking to the wet tapes. The cordsactto lift the fiat pieces and remove the same from.

the tape so that their delivery to the ribbon I,

feed is assured. Endless tapes 3% are also engaged upon the rollers 32 and below the cords 3% for the purpose of supporting the articles and preventing the same from sagging down between the ropesfil.

A steam receivin chamber 36 is arranged upon the bottom ()1. the reservoirs 5, excepting the two end reservoirs which are not provided with suchjchambers. Steam may be supplied to these-chambers from any suitablesource, so" that the liquid within the chamber is maintained in a highly heated condition. The bottom of each reservoir is further provided with a suitable drain or out-let j lflgand a receiving tank 38 is ar ranged beneath the presser rollers 19 and 20 to receive the water pressed from the fabric articles, the bottom of said tank being likewise equipped outlet 39. I

At one side! ofthe machine, opposite to the two forward:reservoirs '5 and also op with. a drainage opening or t .posite to the rear reservoir, a hopper 40 is I mounted in a suitable support 41 fixed upon 'the machine, frame. chamber 42 is secured upon one oftheside walls thereof, and said chamber is adapted In this hopper, a

to receive liquid soap, bluing, or other washing compound which is poured into the same through the mouth or inlet spout 43 projecting outwardly from one of the hopper walls.

A rock shaft 44 is arrangedcentrally above the-chamber 42 and journaled at its ends in the opposedwalls ofthe hopper. To said shaft, the connected compartments 45 are fixed. Each of these compartments is in the form of an equilateral triangle, the apex of which is suitably secured to the shaft.

' These compartments, at their upper or wider. ends, are open, and said compartments are located in the hopper, approximately entirely .out of the vertical line of the chamber 42. To the shaft 44, arms 46 are fixed, and upon I the outer ends of said arms, the buckets 47 i are hingedly mounted at their closed ends.

.At opposite ends of the chamber 42, the same is reinforced at its upper edge by rods 48 upon which the respective compartments 45 areadapted to engage and be supported.

The 'bottomiwall of the chamber 42 is prefyer-ably reinforced-for sliding contact of'the scoop or bucket 47 therewith. A coil spring 49 acts to force this bucket outwardly into longitudinal ,alinement with .the arm 46, when the bucket is raised above the rod 48. .50 designates awater supply pipe which is adapted to supply water to the compartments 45, and a steam pipe 51 has its lower outlet end disposed in the chamber 42 where- .eby the contents of said chamber are heated.

uniform depth.

. A pipe 52 is connected centrallyto the bot-I tom'wall of the hpipper 40 and to the tank or reservoir 5, imme i wardly moving sections-of the series of tapes ately adjacent to the up 13 which pass from the roller '6 and over the guide roller 14 into the next adjacent reser voir. Pipes 53 are. also connected to the other reservoirs whichare not provided with the compound feeding means above referred to, and supply hot water to said reservoirs from a suitable supply source The bottom of the chamber 42 is provided with a suitable drain cook 54, whereby'the material may be drained from said chamber when necessary. It will be noted that'th 'vvater ted to the" several reservoirs above the axis of the roller '6 therein. An overflow pipe 55 extends up .vardly through the bottom of each reservoirand has its upper end disposed slightly be Thus, the water in the several reservoirs is, at all supply pipes 52 and 53 are connec low the axial centers of said rollers.

times, maintained at a predetermined and From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved Washing machine will. be understood as follows The sheets,

"multiplicity of ets from. the". pipe 12 which towels, table cloths, napkins, and like flat fabric articles, are fed to the machine by I placing the same upon the inclined table 18 oyer'the piurality of moving feedtapes or ribbons, These-tapes carry. the articles in the direction indicated bythe arrow. and

around the first of the rollers 14, at which point the articles are also engaged by the downwardly moving series of cords 26. v As the articles are thus carried below theroller 7 14, hotivater is forcibly ejected from the pipe 12 by theaction of the pump 9 against such articles, so that the fabric is thoroughly permeated by this water and the dirt therein loosened andremoved. I The engageg ment of the-fabric articles by the corru-- gated periphery of the roller 6, when there is a. slight rubbing action, together, with the shaft 44, thereby rocking said shaft until the compartment wall strikes upon the rod 48 at the upper edge of theflchainber 42and the water will be discharged into the hopper 40. -In this movement. of the water chamber, it is obvious that the bucket orscoop 47100 on one-of the arms 46 ismoved upwardly upon one side of thechamber 42, andis completely filledwith the soap suds in said chamber. When the scoop reaches a point above the upper edge of the chamber wall,. o5 the spring 49 acts to force said scoop." out Wardly so that its contents. will be discharged into the hopper 40'. The water is continuously supplied from the pipe 50 sothat the .other compartment 45 will-be filled 0 and the above action repeated. ;There' is; 1 thus, acbnstant supply of waterand soapsuds from the hopper to the reservoir, and a this's'aponified water'is being continually Withdrawn from the reservoir by thepump lib impinge against the fabric article's?" To the second of the reservoirs 5, a hot bleaching soap suds is continuously fed'from the-Fain tomatically operating feeding device. while. in the third, fourth and fifth reservoirs, the rinsing action takes place, and the soap is removed from the articles by being passed through the hot water contained insaid res- 1% V.

ervoirs. To the sixth and last reservoir, a

' bluing co p0 is confinu oiisly supplied.'

From this latter reserfiir, the articles are carried by, the tapes and finally, after the I water is compressed therefrom, fed to the power and directly driven therefrom.

drying and ironing machine. By the provision of the several centrifugal pumps, a strong current of water is constantly circulating through each of the reservoirs which, by contact with the several articles of fabric passing therethrough, effectually removes the dirt. The reservoirs may be periodically drained and thoroughly cleansed by opening the outlets 37.

Any preferred driving mechanism may be employed for the operation of the machine; but, preferably, the several pumps are connected in series to a motor or other source :of T e corrugated rollers 6 are driven by chain or gear connections from the shafts of the respective pumps. The several rollers 14, the presser rollers 19, and the rollers 22 and 32, are driven by chains or suitable gearing independently of the pumps and the rollers 6. Preferably, this latter gearing should be capable of such adjustment that the speed of movement of the article feeding tapes 13 can be varied so that a greater or less length of time will be required for such articles to pass through each of the reservoirs, in accordance with the particular conditionof the articles which might necessitate a more thorough cleansing action,

From the foregoing, it will be seen that 1 have produced a machine for the Washing of fabrics which is capable of operating upon lace curtains andlike delicate articles without the slightest wear or tear upon the same. By eliminating the necessity of frequent handling of the articles in transferring the same from one machine to another, the labor incident to the operation of such washing machinery is reduced to a minimum.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it is to be understood that the machineis susceptible of considerable modification therein, and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 0

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a washing machine, a'series of reservoirs, a friction roller mounted in each of said reservoirs, a plurality of spaced endless flexible tapes having one of their stretches extending through the reservoirs and around the rollers therein, a series of spaced endless flexible holding members having one of their stretches adapted for engagement upon the articles arranged on said tapes at points between the spaced tapes and also movable through the reservoirs around the rollers therein, and a series of endless friction members arranged at one end of the series n cleansing solution to certain of said reser ,Y'OIIS.

3. In a washing machine of the character described, a series of reservoirs, a friction roller mounted in each of the reservoirs, means for transferring the articles to be washed successively from one reservoir to another and around the respective rollers, and gravity actuated means for intermittently feeding a cleansing solution to certainl of said reservoirs.

In' testimony whereof I hereunto affix. my signature in the presence of tWo witnesses.

WALTER J. BRUNGER Witnesses:

EDWARD L. KING, "Jesus-H E. BERAN. 

